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GET OUT THOSE HANKIES. One of the most beloved traditions in soaps, the decorating of the Horton Christmas tree on Days of Our Lives, will be a lot less cheerful this year due to the death of two major family members, Mickey, last played by Kevin Dobson, was killed off by the writers in January. Then grande dame Alice passed away in June, several months after the death of actress Frances Reid, who portrayed the feisty matriarch since Days' debut in 1965. But Salem's premiere clan is determined to press on and make the best of the holidays.

"It was hard when we shot the Christmas episodes [airing December 24 and 27] because the Horton living room felt so empty," says fan fave Melissa Reeves, who recently returned to the soaps as Alice's granddaughter Jennifer Rose after a four year absence. "Bo and Hope are on the run. Jennifer's husband, Jack, is on a walkabout in Australia. Her kids are snowed in at Heathrow airport. But the few Hortons who are left - Doug, Julie, Maggie - are not going to break with tradition because of troubles and tribulations. They make sure every ornament is hung on the tree."

Many of those ornaments - each with the name of a family member - have been seen on the show for decades. "We've never broken one of them," says Reeves. "When the prop department brings out that box, it triggers so much emotion in all of us, especially this year, because we all miss Frances so much. We've kept her chair on the set - her place of honor- and none of us ever sits in it. I don't know that we ever will."

"It was hard when we shot the Christmas episodes [airing December 24 and 27] because the Horton living room felt so empty," says fan fave Melissa Reeves, who recently returned to the soaps as Alice's granddaughter Jennifer Rose after a four year absence. "Bo and Hope are on the run. Jennifer's husband, Jack, is on a walkabout in Australia. Her kids are snowed in at Heathrow airport. But the few Hortons who are left - Doug, Julie, Maggie - are not going to break with tradition because of troubles and tribulations. They make sure every ornament is hung on the tree."

Well... a poor excuse is better than none.

Meanwhile, how are Doug, Julie and Maggie "the only Hortons left?" There are many Hortons out there who are still living -- the writers just don't care enough to bring them back.

"It was hard when we shot the Christmas episodes [airing December 24 and 27] because the Horton living room felt so empty," says fan fave Melissa Reeves, who recently returned to the soaps as Alice's granddaughter Jennifer Rose after a four year absence. "Bo and Hope are on the run. Jennifer's husband, Jack, is on a walkabout in Australia. Her kids are snowed in at Heathrow airport. But the few Hortons who are left - Doug, Julie, Maggie - are not going to break with tradition because of troubles and tribulations. They make sure every ornament is hung on the tree."

Well... a poor excuse is better than none.

Meanwhile, how are Doug, Julie and Maggie "the only Hortons left?" There are many Hortons out there who are still living -- the writers just don't care enough to bring them back.

You know what they should really do since there are such few Hortons this year. When each of the 4 Hortons in the xmas epi goes up to put an ornament up on the tree they should flashback to when Alice gave that ornament to that person. Obviously it'll be hard with Bill and some of the recasted characters but an attempt should be made to do some at least.

This is from the print version of TV Guide. There was another pic of Doug, Julie, Jen and Ciara but its already posted in the Christmas pics thread.

A Bittersweet Christmas in Salem

GET OUT THOSE HANKIES. One of the most beloved traditions in soaps, the decorating of the Horton Christmas tree on Days of Our Lives, will be a lot less cheerful this year due to the death of two major family members, Mickey, last played by Kevin Dobson, was killed off by the writers in January. Then grande dame Alice passed away in June, several months after the death of actress Frances Reid, who portrayed the feisty matriarch since Days' debut in 1965. But Salem's premiere clan is determined to press on and make the best of the holidays.

"It was hard when we shot the Christmas episodes [airing December 24 and 27] because the Horton living room felt so empty," says fan fave Melissa Reeves, who recently returned to the soaps as Alice's granddaughter Jennifer Rose after a four year absence. "Bo and Hope are on the run. Jennifer's husband, Jack, is on a walkabout in Australia. Her kids are snowed in at Heathrow airport. But the few Hortons who are left - Doug, Julie, Maggie - are not going to break with tradition because of troubles and tribulations. They make sure every ornament is hung on the tree."

Many of those ornaments - each with the name of a family member - have been seen on the show for decades. "We've never broken one of them," says Reeves. "When the prop department brings out that box, it triggers so much emotion in all of us, especially this year, because we all miss Frances so much. We've kept her chair on the set - her place of honor- and none of us ever sits in it. I don't know that we ever will."

Thanks for posting! This is ridiculous. It's legitimately very sad that Frances is not there. However, the writers killed off Mickey and chose to remove B&H from this episode. That's sad in a very different way, but certainly not in the same category as Frances's absence.

Doug, Julie, Maggie and Jennifer aren't the only Hortons. There better be a damn good reason why Will, Allie and Nathan aren't invovled in the decorating tradition.

How old is JJ supposed to be? It seems like Abby is coming onto the show as a late-teen, college age girl. JJ should be around Theo's age. Why does Abby have him at the airport? Where have they been this entire time?

Jennifer mentioned Abby was doing a semester in Spain or something and JJ was in boarding school. I guess they can always say that they both took flights to visit Jack and were supposed to come from seeing him to Salem but got stuck at the airport.

That theo never grows up.. He was close to 5 i think when JJ was born.. he is the only child that NEVERages.. truly wierd..But I agree, They should have atleast a visit from Will and Allie.. Will should be the one to hang Lucas and their own ornaments.And I cant see any reason for Nathan not being there,, even if he goes to the Brasy's and the Hortons